SB803 • 2026

Virginia Fair Housing Law; regulations defining terms related to unlawful conduct.

An Act to direct the <em style="">Real Estate Board and the </em>Fair Housing Board to promulgate regulations defining certain terms related to unlawful conduct under the Virginia Fair Housing Law (§ 36-96.1 et seq.).

Housing

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Deeds
Last action: 2026-04-22
Official status: Acts of Assembly Chapter
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not specify what happens if the boards do not create rules within 280 days or how enforcement will occur.

Virginia Law for Clear Rules on Unfair Housing Behavior

This law tells two boards in Virginia to make rules about unfair behavior in housing, like harassment and intimidation.

What This Bill Does

Requires the Real Estate Board and Fair Housing Board to create rules defining 'quid pro quo harassment' and 'hostile environment harassment'.
Directs these boards to define terms such as 'prohibited interference,' 'coercion,' and 'intimidation conduct.'
Asks the boards to make emergency rules within 280 days of when the law is passed.

Who It Names or Affects

The Real Estate Board and Fair Housing Board in Virginia

Terms To Know

quid pro quo harassment: When someone offers a benefit or threatens to take something away if you agree to their demands, especially related to housing.
hostile environment harassment: Unwanted behavior that makes living in a place feel unsafe or uncomfortable.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens if the boards do not create these rules within 280 days.
It is unclear how this law will be enforced once the regulations are made.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

SB803G

2026-04-11 • Governor

Governor's Recommendation

Plain English: (SB803) GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION 1.

(SB803) GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION 1.
Line 2, enrolled, Title, after the insert Real Estate Board and the 2.
Line 7, enrolled, after the insert Real Estate Board and the 3.
Line 11, enrolled, after That the insert Real Estate Board and the

Bill History

2026-04-22 Governor
Governor's recommendation adopted
2026-04-22 House
Signed by Speaker
2026-04-22 Senate
Signed by President
2026-04-22 Governor
Approved by Governor-Chapter 1029 (effective 7/1/2026)
2026-04-22 Senate
Reenrolled
2026-04-22 Senate
Reenrolled bill text (SB803ER2)
2026-04-22 Governor
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1029)
2026-04-22 Senate
Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (22-Y 17-N 0-A)
2026-04-22 House
House concurred in Governor's recommendation (64-Y 34-N 0-A)
2026-04-11 Governor
Governor's recommendation received by Senate
2026-03-14 Senate
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026
2026-03-14 Governor
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
2026-03-12 House
Signed by Speaker
2026-03-11 Senate
Signed by President
2026-03-11 Senate
Enrolled
2026-03-11 Senate
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB803ER)
2026-03-11 Senate
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB803)
2026-03-05 Senate
House substitute agreed to by Senate (23-Y 16-N 0-A)
2026-03-03 House
Read third time
2026-03-03 House
committee substitute agreed to
2026-03-03 House
Engrossed by House - committee substitute
2026-03-03 House
Passed House with substitute (64-Y 34-N 0-A)
2026-03-02 House
Read second time
2026-03-02 General Laws
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB803)
2026-02-27 General Laws
Committee substitute printed 26108501D-H1
2026-02-26 General Laws
Reported from General Laws with substitute (17-Y 4-N)
2026-02-26 House
House committee offered
2026-02-19 Housing/Consumer Protection
Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 3-N)
2026-02-19 Housing/Consumer Protection
House subcommittee offered
2026-02-16 Housing/Consumer Protection
Assigned HGL sub: Housing/Consumer Protection
2026-02-13 House
Placed on Calendar
2026-02-13 General Laws
Referred to Committee on General Laws
2026-02-13 House
Read first time
2026-02-10 Senate
Read third time and passed Senate (23-Y 17-N 0-A)
2026-02-09 Senate
Read second time
2026-02-09 Senate
Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote)
2026-02-06 Senate
Rules suspended
2026-02-06 Senate
Passed by for the day
2026-02-06 Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-06 Senate
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-02-04 General Laws and Technology
Reported from General Laws and Technology (11-Y 4-N)
2026-01-30 Senate
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB803)
2026-01-28 Housing
Assigned GL&T sub: Housing
2026-01-23 Senate
Presented and ordered printed 26101242D
2026-01-23 General Laws and Technology
Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology

Official Summary Text

Virginia Fair Housing Law; unlawful conduct.
Directs the Real Estate Board and the Fair Housing Board to promulgate regulations defining "quid pro quo harassment," "hostile environment harassment," and other terms related to unlawful conduct under the Virginia Fair Housing Law. The bill directs the Real Estate Board and the Fair Housing Board to adopt emergency regulations to implement the provisions of the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

An Act to direct the
Real Estate Board and the
Fair Housing Board to promulgate regulations defining certain terms related to unlawful conduct under the Virginia Fair Housing Law (§
36-96.1
et seq.).
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1.
§ 1. That the
Real Estate Board and the
Fair Housing Board shall promulgate regulations defining (i) "quid pro quo harassment" and "hostile environment harassment" consistent with the provisions of 24 C.F.R. § 100.600, as in effect on January 1, 2026, and (ii) "prohibited interference," "coercion," and "intimidation conduct" consistent with the provisions of 24 C.F.R. § 100.400, as in effect on January 1, 2026.
2. That the Real Estate Board and the Fair Housing Board shall promulgate regulations to implement the provisions of this act to be effective within 280 days of its enactment.